Who's Who
Traveling is so much more fun when you know a little of the history and something about the people involved in any story. The following is a list of some of the major participants during the Civil War who had a profound impact upon Georgia’s history.
James J. Andrews Braxton Bragg Joseph Emerson Brown Howell Cobb John Brown Gordon William J. Hardee John Bell Hood Joseph Eggleston Johnston James Longstreet James Birdseye McPherson William Starke Rosecrans William Tecumseh Sherman Alexander Hamilton Stephens George Thomas Robert Augustus Toombs Joseph Wheeler --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James J. Andrews – Union Army - The leader of the group known as "Andrews' Raiders", who stole "The General" locomotive in April 1862, prompting "the Great Locomotive Chase." A number of the raiders later became the first recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. But Andrews himself was a civilian, thus was ineligible. After being captured, Andrews was later hanged by Confederates in Atlanta as a spy.
Braxton Bragg – Confederate Army - Commanding General of the Confederate Army (of Tennessee) during the Chickamauga Campaign. Defeated General Rosecrans at Chickamauga, although heavy losses and poor leadership decisions resulted in Bragg's army being defeated at Chattanooga two months later (in November 1863) by General Ulysses S. Grant. Bragg was then replaced by General Joseph E. Johnston. Fort Bragg in North Carolina is named for him.
Joseph Emerson Brown - Georgia's wartime Governor (1857-1865) was a fiery leader, often clashing politically with Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Brown was among the most fervent believers in "states rights", strongly opposing Davis's centralized government initiatives brought about by the necessities of war. Among Brown’s actions was the formation of a state defense force, nicknamed "Joe Brown's pets". Brown continuously resisted calls from Davis to have this small force leave the state for other military duties. But Brown was also a popular governor, leaving office only when forced to do so by Federal authorities at the war's end. Brown also served in the U.S. Senate, and as Chief Justice of Georgia's Supreme Court. A statue of Brown and his wife Elizabeth sits on the Georgia Capitol grounds in Atlanta. They are buried in Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery, near many other Civil War notables.
Howell Cobb – Confederate Army - A native Georgian, Cobb served pre-War as a Governor of Georgia, US Speaker of the House and U.S. Treasury Secretary under President James Buchanan. Presiding over the first Confederate Provisional Congress in February 1861, Cobb was disappointed to have not been chosen the new country's first President. Instead, Cobb became a general in the Confederate Army, although he never served in a major commanding position. Howell Cobb died in 1868, following his also famous younger brother, Thomas R. R. Cobb, who was killed in December 1862 during the Battle of Fredericksburg (VA). Both are buried at Oconee Hill Cemetery in Athens.
John Brown Gordon – Confederate Army - Though he fought primarily in Virginia, Gordon was a native Georgian. Fearless in battle, he was wounded several times, yet returned to battle each time. He rose through the ranks to Major General, ending the War in command of half of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s army. After the war, Gordon served two terms as a U.S. Senator, one as Governor of Georgia and 14 years as the first national Commander of the United Confederate Veterans. Gordon was definitely one of the most important figures in Georgia politics for more than 40 years. Fort Gordon in Augusta is named for him. Gordon and his wife, Fanny, are buried in Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery.
William J. Hardee – Confederate Army - A native Georgian, and capable Confederate corps commander under both Bragg and Johnston during the Chattanooga and Atlanta Campaigns respectively, Hardee later commanded the small Confederate force defending Savannah against Sherman on his March to the Sea. His nickname, “Old Reliable” was little comfort against Sherman’s overwhelming 6-to-1 numerical advantage.
John Bell Hood – Confederate Army - After losing a leg due to a wound suffered during the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863, Hood recovered enough to resume command of a corps in Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's Army (of Tennessee) during the 1864 Atlanta Campaign. He then replaced Johnston as Commander on July 18, 1864, just prior to the Battle of Peachtree Creek. Hood suffered four straight battlefield defeats (Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Ezra Church & Jonesboro) over the next 6 weeks, resulting in the loss of Atlanta. Hood subsequently moved his army back into northwest Georgia. William T. Sherman’s Federal army followed briefly before turning toward "the Sea" and the capture of Savannah. Hood's army was virtually destroyed in December 1864 at the Battle of Nashville (TN) by Union Major General George Thomas's army.
Joseph Eggleston Johnston – Confederate Army - Serving in various high Confederate command positions during the War, Johnston replaced Braxton Bragg as Commanding General of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in December 1863 while it was quartered in Dalton, Georgia (following Bragg's defeat at Chattanooga). Restoring morale during the winter of 1863-64, Johnston’s army slowly retreated during the Atlanta Campaign against Sherman’s superior numbers from May through July 1864. But frustrated by Johnston’s secrecy and his seemingly reluctance to fight, Confederate President Jefferson Davis replaced him with John B. Hood. Johnston’s lack of major military success has resulted in his being overshadowed today. However, a memorial statue to General Johnston stands in downtown Dalton. Johnston attended Sherman's funeral in 1891, standing without a hat in the rain. When urged to wear a hat, he replied that Sherman would be showing equal respect if their roles were reversed. Sadly, Johnston caught the flu because of this respect for his former adversary, dying within a month.
James Longstreet – Confederate Army - When not in the army, Longstreet lived most of his life in Georgia, and is buried at Alta Visa Cemetery in Gainesville. Similar to John B. Gordon's Civil War career, Longstreet served with Robert E. Lee in Virginia during most of the war, where he was Lee's 2nd in command. However, Longstreet and his corps transferred by train in time to play a decisive role in the Confederate victory at Chickamauga in September 1863. After the war, Longstreet became a Republican, advocating reconciliation with the North (which didn't sit well with many former Confederate colleagues). A close friend of Ulysses .S. Grant since their West Point days, while President, Grant appointed Longstreet to various posts (which further alienated Longstreet from former Confederates). Thus there were few tributes to Longstreet until recent years.
James Birdseye McPherson – Union Army - James Birdseye McPherson - Rising in rank from First Lieutenant to Major General in only 14 months, McPherson commanded the Federal Army of the Tennessee during most of the Atlanta Campaign (one of three Federal armies under William T. Sherman’s overall command). After missing his opportunity for a major military triumph at Resaca in May 1864, McPherson was killed on July 22 during the Battle of Atlanta. He thus became the only Commanding General of an entire Federal army to die in combat during the Civil War. Fort McPherson in Atlanta is named for him.
William Starke Rosecrans – Union Army - Commanding General of the Federal Army (of the Cumberland) during the Chickamauga Campaign of September 1863. Very religious and militarily aggressive, Rosecrans’ actions culminated with the Battle of Chickamauga, the 2nd largest battle in terms of casualties of the entire Civil War (Gettysburg was 1st). But his army was defeated, retreating to Chattanooga, where Rosecrans was replaced by Major General U.S. Grant. Major General William T. Sherman then replaced Grant after the latter transferred to Washington, DC to take overall command of all Federal armies in early 1864.
William Tecumseh Sherman – Union Army - Top Federal commander in Georgia during the Atlanta Campaign & March to the Sea in 1864, he was born in Ohio and educate at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In the spring of 1864, Sherman was made overall commander of all Federal armies in the west and was ordered by Ulysses S. Grant to “create havoc and destruction of all resources that would be beneficial to the enemy”. With a grand aggregate of 98,797 troops and 254 cannons, in early May 1864 he began the Atlanta Campaign, capturing the city on September 2. After a short respite, Sherman formed four corps into two columns (or “wings”). They cut a swath up to sixty miles wide marching from Atlanta to Savannah, destroying anything that could aid or be resourceful to the enemy. On December 23, 1864, Sherman sent a telegram to Lincoln stating that he was presenting the City of Savannah as a Christmas gift. After Grant was elected President, Sherman was promoted again, to the grade of full General, and given command of the entire U.S. Army. He retired in 1883.
Alexander Hamilton Stephens - The only Vice President of the Confederate States of America, Stephens was also a Congressman both before and after the Civil War, plus a Governor of Georgia afterwards. A close friend of fellow Georgian Robert A. Toombs, during the war Stephens bitterly opposed Confederate President Jefferson Davis on numerous issues. He eventually left the Confederate capital city of Richmond, VA, rarely to return. Stephens spent much of the latter portions of the War at his home in Crawfordville, where he was when arrested by Federal authorities in May 1865. Oddly, Stephens was placed on the same boat as Jefferson Davis from Augusta to Savannah, on their way to Federal imprisonment. Little was said that day between the combative Confederate President & Vice President, leaving us to only speculate. Stephens died in 1883 while serving as Governor. He is buried on the property of his home in Crawfordville, “Liberty Hall”, now a portion of the Alexander H. Stephens State Park.
George Thomas – Union Army - A Virginian who remained loyal to the Union, Thomas commanded a corps in Rosecrans army during the Battle of Chickamauga. Standing firm against overwhelming numbers late in the battle, Thomas's corps prevented a Federal defeat from becoming a total disaster, thus enabling most of the Federal army to escape. Thomas's stubborn defense at Chickamauga earned the nickname of the "Rock of Chickamauga." After Chattanooga, Thomas commanded the largest Army (of the Cumberland) in Sherman's combined three-army force during the entire Atlanta Campaign of 1864. After Atlanta fell Thomas was transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, where his army practically destroyed what was left of John B. Hood's Confederate army in December 1864.
Robert Augustus Toombs – Confederate Army - Both a Congressman and later a U.S. Senator from Georgia prior to the Civil War, Toombs was bitterly disappointed to have not been selected the Confederacy's first President. Becoming instead its Secretary of State, Toombs was widely known for his oratory skills. Toombs also served for a time as a Brigadier General in the Confederate army, distinguishing himself for his small brigade's tenacious defense of what came to be known as "Burnside's Bridge" during the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg, MD) on September 17, 1862. Toombs died in 1885, still an "unreconstructed Rebel." His home in Washington, Ga. is now a state historic site, and Toombs County is named for him. General Toombs is buried at Rest Haven Cemetery in Washington, Georgia.
Joseph Wheeler – Confederate Army - A native Georgian, and a Major General commanding all Confederate cavalry in Georgia during the 1864 Atlanta Campaign & March to the Sea. Wheeler's troopers also fought at Chickamauga, capturing a number of Federal prisoners. His approximately 3,500 cavalrymen were the only credible Confederate opposition during the March to the Sea before Federal troops reached the Savannah area. Yet outnumbered almost 20 – 1, Wheeler could only annoy Sherman and his army, not stop them. Wheeler moved to Alabama after the War, serving about 15 years in Congress. He was later one of only four former Confederate generals to serve in the U.S. Army as generals during the Spanish-American War of 1898. Wheeler commanded Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders!